AREAS LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY BLACKOUTS
SHOWN
Focal point remains Arlington and Lakeland
(July 16, 2016) — The forecasted extreme temperatures for next week
increase the likelihood of rolling blackouts during the peak hours of 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in Arlington, Lakeland
and surrounding areas that are impacted by the loss of service from Substation
68.
Rolling blackouts, which are
unprecedented in recent MLGW history, are intended to balance power loads and
protect the electric distribution system from damage that could result from the
high demand for power caused by the extreme heat until Substation 68
returns to service on or before August 8. If needed, blackouts,
lasting about 4 hours, would rotate between sections—not entire cities—in order
to balance power loads during peak hours.
The accompanying map shows
Substation 68 transformers in orange and yellow. Orange notes the “most likely” transformers that would be
impacted by rolling blackouts, if needed. Yellow notes where rolling blackouts
are “possible.” Green-colored transformers are “least likely” to experience
rolling blackouts but are in the voluntary curtailment because their related
substations are providing power to Substation 68’s service area.
Customers who are “most likely” to be affected by rolling blackouts
will receive notice via phone starting Sunday.
By voluntarily curtailing
power usage, customers can minimize the impact of rolling blackouts. Here are
some tips for residential and commercial customers.
Residential customers:
• Raise your thermostat
setting to minimize air conditioner operation. An 80-degree setting will have
the greatest benefit to balancing the system and avoiding blackouts, but even a
few degrees may help. Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothes and drink cool
beverages to maintain comfort.
• Install a programmable
thermostat, if you don’t already have one. Program the system to raise indoor
temperatures between 3:00pm
and 8:30pm. Read your owner’s manual or manufacturer’s website
carefully to see whether the device has “intelligent recovery,” which means it
really activates earlier so you reach the desired setting by the programmed
time. You want the system to begin resuming normal operation at 8:30pm.
• Plan shopping and
entertainment during the 3:00pm to 8:30pm period, so you won’t notice the higher temperature in
your home.
• Use ceiling fans and
portable fans to provide supplemental cooling, but be sure to turn off fans if
no one is in the room. (Fans stir the air to speed evaporation on your skin;
they do not lower the actual room temperature.)
• Delay energy-intensive
activities—such as laundry, dishwashing and extensive cooking—until after 8:30pm. Prepare meals in the microwave, which uses less
energy than your stove or oven.
• Close curtains and blinds on
west-facing windows and doors. Keep exterior doors tightly closed and make sure
storm windows are lowered.
• Check and replace any torn
weatherstripping along exterior door frames and windows. Those little cracks
enable hot air to invade your home, causing discomfort and longer air
conditioner run times.
• Turn off unnecessary
electronics. Plugging them into a surge protector strip with an on/off switch
makes this task simple. This includes TVs, game consoles, computers, monitors,
speakers and printers.
• Unplug chargers after use.
Phone chargers and other devices that convert AC power to DC power continue to
use small amounts of power, even if the device is not connected.
• Run pool pumps earlier in
the day or later in the evening to avoid the peak hours of 3:00pm to 8:30pm.
COMMERCIAL
• Raise thermostat settings
to 80 degrees during business hours.
(Yes, it will be warm, but will help avoid blackouts.) If 80 degrees is impossible, raise it as much
as you can. Set thermostat even higher
after hours to minimize energy use until 8:30.
• Encourage employees to
dress casually for comfort.
• Use personal fans to
provide supplemental cooling in key areas to offset some of the thermostat
change. Remember to turn off fans when leaving the area.
• Reduce lighting in
hallways, meeting rooms, restrooms, parking garages and office spaces. Use natural lighting or lower-wattage task
lighting to compensate until close of business, then minimize further as
employees and customers leave the property.
• Ask employees to turn off
office equipment, fans, task lighting and other personal electronics at the end
of their workday. Computers, monitors, printers and seldom-used fax machines
are frequent overnight power draws.
• Check the breakroom for
small appliances and electronics that run unnecessarily and turn them off. You may need to post signs to encourage users
to “turn it off” when finished.
• Post signs to encourage
employees to take the stairs instead of elevator, if they are able.
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